This 60-minute course with International Master Andrew Martin is dedicated to one of the most practical anti-Sicilian weapons around: 2.b3
The appeal is simple. With one quiet move, you take your opponent straight out of mainline Sicilian theory and into a position where you understand the plans and they're left to fend for themselves. It's an ideal addition to any club player's repertoire and sharp enough that even titled players bring it out at the right moment. What makes 2.b3 so attractive is that it's aggressive and positional at the same time. You fianchetto your bishop to b2 and aim it down the long diagonal, then look to open the position with a well-timed f4 and generate attacking chances on the kingside . And it's genuinely easy to understand: there's no maze of forcing lines to memorize, just a clear, repeatable development plan.
Contents
1.e4 c5 2.b3
Introduction and Game 1: 2...e5 3.Bb2 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Nge2 Nc6
Game 2: 2...Nc6 3.Bb2 e5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Nc3 Be7
Game 3: 2...Nc6 3.Bb2 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.f4 exf4 6.Qf3 Nf6
Game 4: 2...e5 3.Bb2 Nc6 4.Bc4 d6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nge2 Be7
Game 5: 2...Nc6 3.Bb2 d6 4.Bb5 Bd7 5.f4 a6 6.Bxc6 Bxc6
Game 6: 2...e6 3.Bb2 d6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 dxe5 6.Nxe5 Be7
Game 7: 2...Nc6 3.Bb2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb5 Nf6 6.e5 Nd7
Game 8: 2...g6 3.Bb2 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Qf3 Nb4 6.Na3 Bg7
Game 9: 2...Nc6 3.Bb2 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6
Outro
